Aid for threading a seat belt through a child safety restraint

ABSTRACT

A device helps the user pull a vehicle seat belt mechanism through a child safety restraint seat to secure the seat in the vehicle. One design includes an elongated handle with a pocket at the other end. The pocket end includes: (a) a chamber with (b) an open face large enough for the seat belt mechanism to enter the chamber, and (c) a slot in one of the walls for the belt to fit into. Another design includes an elongated handle with a spring hook at the other end. This spring hook mechanism includes: (a) a base portion connected with the elongated handle and (b) a free hook end extending from the base portion toward the second end of the handle member. The free hook end includes a hook member for engaging a portion of the seat belt mechanism. The devices would be preferably formed from a rigid but flexible material, like a strong plastic.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device to assist in the installation of achild safety restraint seat of the type designed to rest on a vehicleseat and to be secured to the vehicle seat by a vehicle lap or shoulderbelt which passes between the child restraint occupant and the vehicleseat.

RELATED ART

A common design of a child safety restraint seat includes a transversechannel or path in a base or frame for receiving a seat belt of the lapor shoulder type in a tie-down arrangement. The male metal engagementplate of the seat belt buckle passes through the child safety restraintseat and is coupled to a mating female buckle on the other side, therebysecuring the child safety restraint seat to the vehicle.

Often, the transverse channel or path the male metal engagement plateand fabric belt must take through the base or frame of the child safetyrestraint seat is smaller than a person's hand or arm and/or is not astraight smooth path for the seat belt to transverse. This makes itdifficult to thread the seat belt through the child safety restraintseat and to secure the safety seat to the seat of a vehicle.

Various aids for threading a seat belt through a child safety restraintseat have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,176 to Reeseshows one such design. The device of Reese is designed so that the maleengagement plate of the seat belt must go past the hinged/base end ofthe hook, past the point of the hook, and then back to the hinged/baseend in order for it to be engaged. This arrangement makes the device ofReese difficult to use. Also, in this device, the hinged/base end of thehook must be smaller than the hole in the male engagement plate of theseat belt. Because the holes used in the design of many of the maleengagement plates used in vehicles today are quite small, the hook ofthe Reese device also must be made very small to accommodate differentmale engagement plates. When the hooks are made so small, the hookmember will have insufficient strength and durability needed forrepeated use.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a device to assist a user ininstalling a child safety restraint seat in a vehicle that is strong,durable, inexpensive, easy to use, and easy to produce.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a simple tool to aid in threading a seat beltthrough the frame or base of a child safety restraint seat withoutputting undue stress on the installer.

One embodiment of the device according to the invention includes anelongated handle member and a pocket member located at one end of theelongated handle member. This pocket member includes: at least one wallthat defines a chamber to receive a portion of a seat belt mechanism, anopen face of sufficient size to allow the portion of the seat beltmechanism to enter into the chamber, and a slot defined in the wall,wherein the slot is sized and located so as to allow a restraining bandportion of the seat belt mechanism to extend outside the chamber and toretain the portion of the seat belt mechanism within the chamber whenthe handle member is pulled.

In a more specific embodiment of the invention, the wall of the pocketmember may include an end wall portion and a side wall portion, whereinthe slot extends from the open face and partially through the end wallportion. More specifically, the wall of the pocket member may include atleast two side wall portions and an end wall portion, wherein the slotextends from the open face and partially through the end wall portion.Even more specifically, the wall of the pocket member may include; aproximal end wall portion; a distal end wall portion; and three sidewalls extending between the proximal end wall portion and the distal endwall portion, wherein the open face of the pocket member is locatedbetween two of the three side walls, and wherein the slot extends fromthe open face and partially through the distal end wall portion.

Preferably, the pocket member is integrally formed with the elongatedhandle member, and each are formed from a flexible but rigid material,such as plastic.

Another embodiment of the device according to the invention includes anelongated handle member having a first end and a second end; and aspring hook mechanism located proximate the second end of the elongatedhandle member, wherein the spring hook mechanism includes: (a) a baseportion connected with the elongated handle member, wherein a connectionjoint between the base portion and the elongated handle member islocated a first distance from the first end of the elongated handlemember, and (b) a free hook end extending from the base portion towardthe second end of the elongated handle member, wherein the free hook endincludes a hook member for engaging a portion of the seat beltmechanism, wherein the hook member is located a second distance from thefirst end of the elongated handle member, and wherein the first distanceis less than the second distance.

In this embodiment of the invention, a base surface may be providedproximate the second end of the elongated handle member, wherein thefree hook end of the spring hook mechanism extends above the basesurface. A hole may be defined through the elongated handle memberproximate the second end at the base surface, wherein the base portionof the spring hook mechanism is located at one side of the hole, andwherein the free hook end of the spring hook mechanism extends over thehole.

Also, in this embodiment of the invention, the spring hook mechanism maybe integrally formed with the elongated handle member. Preferably, thespring hook mechanism is rigid but flexible, advantageously made from aplastic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood when considered inconjunction with the following detailed description and the attacheddrawings, which include:

FIG. 1, which is a perspective view of a first embodiment of theinvention (the pocket design) showing how the seat belt male engagementplate engages the pocket in the threading aid and the threading aidpositioned to be threaded through the child safety restraint seat;

FIG. 2, which is a drawing showing a perspective view of the pocketdesign in more detail;

FIG. 3, which is a perspective view of a second embodiment of theinvention (the spring hook design) showing how the seat belt maleengagement plate engages the spring hook of the threading aid and thethreading aid positioned to be threaded through the child safetyrestraint seat; and

FIGS. 4A through 4C, which show three views of the spring hook design ofthe invention in more detail, namely a top flat view (FIG. 4A), a sideedge view (FIG. 4B), and a perspective view (FIG. 4C).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing the pocket design of theinvention. To secure a child safety restraint seat 2 to a vehicle seat1, a male engagement plate 5 of the fabric shoulder belt 4 must bepulled through a transverse channel 3 provided in the child safetyrestraint seat 2. Then, the male engagement plate 5 is engaged with thefemale buckle portion of the seat belt (not shown) to secure the childsafety restraint seat 2 to the vehicle seat 1.

The invention comprises a device 10 to assist the user in pulling themale engagement plate 5 of the seat belt through the transverse channel3 of the child safety restraint seat 2. The device 10 includes anelongated handle member 6 with a pocket member located at one end of thehandle member 6. The pocket member includes at least one wall 12 thatdefines a pocket chamber 7 for receiving a portion of the seat beltmechanism (i.e., either the male engagement plate 5 or the female buckleor clasp portion). One wall of the pocket member (e.g., the distal endwall portion 14) includes a slot 8, which extends from the open face ofthe pocket member and through the end wall portion 14. This slot 8 mayextend completely across the end wall portion 14 (or other wall), ifdesired, but preferably, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, it extendspartially across the wall in which it is formed, e.g., the end wallportion 14. In use, as exemplified in FIG. 1, the male engagement plate5 of the seat belt fits into the pocket chamber 7 and the fabricshoulder belt 4 freely extends out of the pocket chamber 7 through theslot 8. The slot 8 is appropriately sized and located such that the maleengagement portion 5 of the seat belt will not pass through the slot 8when the device 10 is pulled through the transverse channel 3 of thechild safety restraint seat 2. If desired, the slot 8 may be somewhattapered to allow for easy insertion of the seat belt fabric 4.

The elongated handle member 6 serves as a handle long enough to passthrough the transverse channel 3 of the child safety restraint seat 2.The pocket chamber 7 is large enough to accept the male engagement plate5 of the buckle. The pocket chamber 7 according to the invention can beof any appropriate shape and size, provided it can accommodate the seatbelt buckle part and it can easily pass through the transverse channel3. In the illustrated embodiment, the pocket chamber 7 includes aproximal end wall 16 (which may be V-shaped, as illustrated, flat,rounded, etc.), three side walls 12, and one distal end wall 14, whereinthe open face of the pocket chamber 7 is provided between two of thethree side walls 12 and between the proximal end wall 16 and the distalend wall 14, and wherein the slot 8 is provided in the distal end wall14, extending from the open face. Preferably, the entire device 10according to the invention is integrally molded from an appropriateplastic composition (e.g., by injection molding) to provide a productthat is somewhat flexible, yet rigid and strong.

Preferably, the handle member 6 is long enough so that one end of thehandle 6 extends from one end of the transverse channel 3 at the sametime that the pocket chamber 7 protrudes from the other end. This allowsthe belt male engagement plate 5 to be easily placed in the pocket 7with the fabric belt 4 going into the slot 8. The device 10 can then bepulled through the transverse channel 3 or path in the base or frame tothe other side where the male engagement plate 5 can be easily removedand engaged into the female buckle.

Advantages of the device 10 according to this design include thefollowing:

1. it is compatible with many different styles and sizes of seat beltbuckle designs;

2. it can be made of a plastic material having sufficient flexibility topass through nonlinear transverse channels or paths 3;

3. it is easy to use;

4. it can be manufactured at low cost;

5. it is a simple, one-piece design;

6. the pocket is very durable compared to hooks small enough to engagethe hole in a male seat belt engagement plate;

7. it has no moving parts; and

8. it has a thin, flat design that lends itself to easy storage withinthe seat or the vehicle.

The above detailed description and FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate onepreferred embodiment of the invention. Those skilled in the art willrecognize, however, that various changes and modifications can be madeto this specifically illustrated design without departing from theinvention. For example, while the illustrated embodiment of theinvention shows a male engagement plate 5 of a seat belt being pulledthrough the transverse channel 3 of the child safety restraint seat 2,one could also use the device 10 according to the invention to pull afemale buckle or clasping mechanism of the seat belt through thetransverse channel 3. Also, as another example, the slot 8 could beformed in another wall 12 or 16 of the pocket member without departingfrom the invention. The pocket member also could take on a variety ofother shapes without departing from the invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4A-4C illustrate the spring hook design 20 of the inventionin detail. In this embodiment of the invention, an elongated handlemember 6 includes a first end 22 and a second end 24. The second end 24includes a spring hook mechanism 9. Like the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and2, the elongated handle member 6 serves as a handle long enough to passthrough the transverse channel 3 of the child safety restraint seat 2.The spring hook mechanism 9 includes a base portion 26 connected withthe handle member 6 at a connection joint. A free hook end 28 extendsfrom the base portion 26 toward the second end 24 of the elongatedhandle member 6. The free hook end 28 includes a hook member 30 that issmall enough for engaging a hole 32 defined in the tongue of the maleengagement member 5 of a seat belt. The hook member 30 is located alonger distance from the first end 22 of the handle member 6 as comparedto the distance between the base portion 26 and the first end 22.

The handle member 6, proximate the second end 24, includes a basesurface portion 34 that is planar or substantially planar.Advantageously, a hole 36 may be defined through this base surfaceportion 34. As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C, the free hook end 28 of thespring hook mechanism 9 has an upwardly angled base member 38 such thatthe hook member 30 extends above the base surface 34 and over the hole36. Additionally, the lead edge portion 40 of the hook member 30 isangled downwardly toward the hole 36 and back toward the base portion26. This arrangement makes it easier to engage and disengage the hookmember 30 with the hole 32 in the male engagement plate 5 of the seatbelt. The base portion 26 of the spring hook mechanism 9 is located atthe end of the hole 36 located closer to the first end 22 of the handlemember 6.

The entire spring hook device 20 according to the invention preferablyis molded (e.g., injection molded) from an appropriate plasticcomposition that is flexible, yet strong and rigid.

Like the pocket chamber embodiment of the invention, the length of thehandle member 6 of the device 20 according to this embodiment of theinvention is sufficient so that the handle 6 may extend from one end ofthe transverse channel 3 at the same time that the spring hook mechanism9 protrudes from the other end. This allows the male engagement plate 5to be snapped onto the spring hook mechanism 9 (i.e., the hook member 30snaps into the hole 32 in the male engagement plate 5 to thereby pinchthe male engagement plate 5 between the hook member 30 and the basesurface 34). The device 20 can then be pulled through the transversechannel 3 or path in the base or frame of the child safety seat 2 to theother side where the male engagement plate 5 can easily be removed andengaged into the female buckle.

Advantages of this design include:

1 it is compatible with many different styles and sizes of the male seatbelt engagement plate;

2. it has the flexibility to pass through nonlinear paths;

3. it is easy to use;

4. it may be manufactured at low cost;

5. it has a simple, one-piece design;

6. it has a hook member that is smaller than the male seat beltengagement plate but the base portion of the hook is wider; and

7. it has a thin, flat design that lends itself to easy storage withinthe seat or the vehicle.

This design distinguishes from the design of the Reese patent describedabove in that the leading, free edge of the spring hook mechanism 9 isclosest to the direction from which the male engagement plate 5approaches the device 20 in use. Also, the hinged/base portion 26 of thespring hook mechanism 9 is located farther away from the direction fromwhich the male engagement plate 5 approaches the device 20 in use. Thisenables the device 20 according to the invention to be very easily anddirectly connected to the male engagement plate 5. This also allows thehinged/base portion 26 of the spring hook mechanism 9 to be as large asneeded to provide strength and durability. It also provides a place forthe user to press to open up the spring hook mechanism 9 to makeengagement and disengagement of the male engagement plate 5 easy.

The devices according to the invention can be appropriately shaped anddimensioned so as to provide the desired degree of strength andflexibility while making the device easy to produce and use and readilyadaptable for use with a variety of different vehicles and safety seats.For example, the handle member 6 and the pocket chamber 7 can have avariety of different shapes and dimensions without departing from theinvention. Also, in the spring hook embodiment, those of ordinary skillin the art will be able to determine appropriate shapes and dimensionsfor the hinged/base portion 26, the free hook end 28, the hook member30, the hole 36, the base member 38, and the lead edge portion 40through routine experimentation. For example, the base member 38 and thelead edge portion 40 are angled in the illustrated embodiment. Theseangled members 38 and 40 can be straight, curved, or otherwiseappropriately shaped without departing from the invention.

If desired, each end of the handle member 6 may include one of thedevices for engaging the seat belt mechanism and pulling it through thetransverse channel 3 of the child safety seat 2. For example, the handlemember 6 may have a pocket chamber 7 provided at each end or a springhook mechanism 9 provided at each end. As another alternative, one endof the handle member 6 may include a spring hook mechanism 9 while theother end includes a pocket member 7. Providing devices for engaging theseat belt mechanism at each end of the handle member 6 advantageouslyincreases the life of the device according to the invention.

Also, the illustrated embodiments of the invention show the handlemember 6 and the walls of the pocket chamber 7 as solid plastic walls.Of course, in order to save manufacturing costs and materials, holes canbe molded into the handle member 6 and the walls of the pocket chamber7.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specificembodiments and preferred aspects, those skilled in the art willrecognize that various changes and modifications can be made to thesedesigns without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for pulling a seat belt mechanismthrough a child safety restraint seat, comprising: an elongated handlemember; and a pocket member located at one end of the elongated handlemember, wherein the pocket member includes: at least one wall thatdefines a chamber to receive a portion of the seat belt mechanism,wherein the wall includes at least two side wall portions and an endwall portion, an open face of sufficient size to allow the portion ofthe seat belt mechanism to enter into the chamber, and a slot defined inthe wall, wherein the slot is sized and located so as to allow arestraining band portion of the seat belt mechanism to extend outsidethe chamber and to retain the portion of the seat belt mechanism withinthe chamber when the handle member is pulled, wherein the slot extendsfrom the open face and partially through the end wall portion.
 2. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein the pocket member is integrallyformed with the elongated handle member.
 3. A device according to claim1, wherein the pocket member is rigid.
 4. A device according to claim 1,wherein the pocket member and the elongated handle member are integrallyformed from a rigid material.
 5. A device according to claim 4, whereinthe rigid material is plastic.
 6. A device for pulling a seat beltmechanism through a child safety restraint seat, comprising: anelongated handle member; and a pocket member located at one end of theelongated handle member, wherein the pocket member includes: at leastone wall that defines a chamber to receive a portion of the seat beltmechanism, wherein the wall of the pocket member includes: a proximalend wall portion, a distal end wall portion, and three side wallsextending between the proximal end wall portion and the distal end wallportion, an open face of sufficient size to allow the portion of theseat belt mechanism to enter into the chamber, wherein the open face ofthe pocket member is located between two of the three side walls, and aslot defined in the wall, wherein the slot is sized and located so as toallow a restraining band portion of the seat belt mechanism to extendoutside the chamber and to retain the portion of the seat belt mechanismwithin the chamber when the handle member is pulled.
 7. A deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the slot extends from the open face andpartially through the distal end wall portion.
 8. A device according toclaim 6, wherein the pocket member is integrally formed with theelongated handle member.
 9. A device according to claim 6, wherein thepocket member is rigid.
 10. A device according to claim 6, wherein thepocket member and the elongated handle member are integrally formed froma rigid material.
 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the rigidmaterial is a plastic.
 12. A device for pulling a seat belt mechanismthrough a child safety restraint seat, comprising: an elongated handlemember having a first end and a second end; and a spring hook mechanismlocated proximate the second end of the elongated handle member, whereinthe spring hook mechanism includes: a base portion connected with theelongated handle member, wherein a connection joint between the baseportion and the elongated handle member is located a first distance fromthe first end of the elongated handle member, and a free hook endextending from the base portion toward the second end of the elongatedhandle member, wherein the free hook end includes a hook member forengaging a portion of the seat belt mechanism, wherein the hook memberis located a second distance from the first end of the elongated handlemember, and wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.13. A device according to claim 12, wherein a base surface is providedproximate the second end of the elongated handle member, and wherein thefree hook end of the spring hook mechanism extends above the basesurface.
 14. A device according to claim 12, wherein a hole is definedthrough the elongated handle member proximate the second end, whereinthe base portion of the spring hook mechanism is located at one side ofthe hole, and wherein the free hook end of the spring hook mechanismextends over the hole.
 15. A device according to claim 12, wherein abase surface is provided proximate the second end of the elongatedhandle member, wherein a hole is defined through the base surface,wherein the base portion of the spring hook mechanism is located at oneside of the hole, and wherein the free hook end of the spring hookmechanism extends over the hole toward the second end of the elongatedhandle member.
 16. A device according to claim 12, wherein the springhook mechanism is integrally formed with the elongated handle member.17. A device according to claim 12, wherein the spring hook mechanism isrigid but flexible.
 18. A device according to claim 12, wherein thespring hook mechanism and the elongated handle member are integrallyformed from a rigid material.
 19. A device according to claim 18,wherein the rigid material is a plastic.
 20. A device according to claim12, wherein the base portion of the spring hook mechanism is wider thanthe free hook end of the spring hook mechanism.